Pulse modifying circuit arrangement



Oct. 22, 1957 '.J. s-.-:HARR|s PULSE MODIFYING CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT Filed Al-lg. 22, .1.952 izyf Par 7'/ rgent yl"atented Oct. 22, 1957 sur PULSE MODIFYlNG CRCUlT ARRANGEMENT James Stallings Harris, Old Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1952, Serial No. 365,903

4 Claims. (Cl. 178-69) The invention relates to pulse signalling systems and particularly to circuit arrangements for modifying the time of occurrence of one or both transitions of a pulse signal. Specifically, the invention pertains to circuit arrangements for varying the weight of telegraph signals.

in telegraph or other pulse signalling systems involving the transmission of intelligence by pulse or other signals of the bi-static -or two-condition type, it is often found that the signal becomes so distorted in transmission that the receiving apparatus will not function properly. This is more noticeable in radio wave transmission systems than on wire line systems, although it does occur to some extent on the latter. Bi-static or two-condition signals are those wherein the desired intelligence is expressed in terms of alternating electrical currents having two discrete values. One such signal is that termed a polar signal wherein a signal element of one nature is transmitted by a current of positive polarity and a signal element of opposite nature is transmitted by a current,preferably of the same amplitude, but of opposite polarity. Another,

type of bi-static signal is that where signal elements of one nature are transmitted by a current of given amplitude and signal elements of opposite nature are transmitted by currents of the same polarity but of substantially different amplitude. Perhaps the most common form of telepgraph vsignal is the so-called neutral signal wherein signal elements of one nature are transmitted as signal currents of given polarity and amplitude and the signal elements of opposite nature are indicated by zero current.

Telegraph signals or pulse trains of the type described `medium through which they are transmitted. For eX- ample bursts of static occurring in a radio transmission path have a tendency to lill the spaces between pulse elements. This filling tends to elongate the signal elements at the receiver. It is highly desirable that some means be provided either at the transmitter or the receiver, or both, to correct for such alteration of the signal characteristics. For the example given, the transmitter might be so arranged as to distort the perfect keyed signal to a predetermined degree to transmit an imperfect signal which at the receiving end of the system will appear almost the same as the keyed perfect signal. In other circumstances it may be desirable to transmit the signal as it is generated and alter the received signal in the proper manner to regenerate the desired signal substantially as it was generated and transmitted. Y

In practice both methods are used and there have been several suggestions in the prior art as to how such signal alterations may be accomplished. These arrangements in An object `of the invention is to provide an improved pulse delaying circuit arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit arrangement for converting a square wave signal into a trapezoidal wave signal.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit arrangement for varying the weight of bistatic telegraph signals, for use either at the transmitter or at the receiver or at both.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pulse modifying circuit arrangement having a control means operable at a great distance from the pulse modifier proper.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simplied circuit arrangement for delaying the trailing transition of a pulse signal train to a xed or to an adjustable degree.

The objects of the invention are attained by means of a trapezoidal Wave generator circuit comprising a grid-controlled cathode follower electron dischargesystem and a constant current electron discharge structure connected in series with an adjustable cathode resistance element. Operating potential is applied across the series circuit described and electron storing device is connected between the junction of the electron discharge devices and an operating potential point. The electron dischargerdevices are so biased that a square Wave voltage applied to the grid of the electron discharge system will produce a voltage wave at the cathode thereof having a sloping'trail- .plied to the input circuit, a substantiallyeconstant output trapezoidal wave is obtained. Changing the slope of the latter then changes the time relation of any given point on the sloping trailing edge with respect to the vertical leading edge.

A limiter stage may precede the trapeziodal wave generator to limit the applied square wave for such applications that do not have a constant amplitude input wave and demand a particular value of potential at a point on the slope of the trapezoidal wave corresponding to the loperating point of a subsequent utilization circuit, such as a bistable reciproconductive circuit operating as a telegraph signal regenerator.

The invention will be described in terms of a Working embodiment, given by way of example only, and illus trated by the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a functional diagram of a circuit arrangement according to the invention which could be located at either a telegraph transmitter or receiver;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit arrangement for performing the functions enumerated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a graphical representation of operating characteristics of the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l, there is shown a functional diagram of a circuit arrangement according to the invention. An input signal of roughly square Wave form, for example a telegraph signal, is applied to an input signal shaper l0 which produces an essentially square wave output of substantially constant amplitude. Any known form of limiter circuit consistent with the type of input signal may be used, but the differential amplifier type to be described hereinafter has denite advantages. If the input signal is a square wave of constant amplitude, as often may be the case, the input signal shaper may be dispensed with, of course. The output of the signal shaper 10 is applied to a slope generator 40 which produces an output wave of trapezoidal form substantially equal to the applied square Wave input pulse plus a sloping trailing edge. As

will later be described,.the Vslope generator 49 has control means whereby theV degreeV of slope can be variedV over a wide range. The trapezoidal voltage wave thus produced is applied to'an output signal shaper 76, which for telegraph and the like purposes isa bistable reciproc'onductive circuit havingraY triggering potential leveliritermediate the top and bottom levelsY of the slope wave..

As employed herein'the term Vreciproconductive cir-V .cuitr is construed to include all :two tube regenerative devlcesln which conduction alternates in one or the other `tube in response to applied triggering potential. The term multivibrator is sometimes appliedto this circuit and the term locking circuit is sometimes applied V,to abistable reciproconductive circuit which is Vone -inlwhicl two triggers are'required to switch from Vone stable state to the other and return. Y

Y The adjustment ofthe slope generator, circuit eil willV vary the slope,prolonging the input pulse by a varying sloping edge. The bistable reciproconductive .circuit will 'be triggered to one stable state at a time relativelyxed vwith respect to the leadingedge ofthe inputpulse Vand triggeredto the other state at a time afterthe trailing edge of the input'pulse depending 'on theslope of the trapezoidal wave.

Referring to Fig. 2, thereis shown a schematicidiagram of a circuit arrangement accordingy to the.. invention wherein the 4three functions previouslydescribedare 'accomplished by means of triode vacuum tubesgarid associatedcomponentsj.Y

The input signal shaper 10,'asV shown,v is l)a cir- Ycuitrof,the'differential amplifier type. Itmay beofany known V.circuit suited to the purpose; For example-1a bii stable reciproconductive circuit may be used'here. If the input signal applied to terminals 11, 13`is polar, with Vrespect to the neutralV connection at 'the terminal 15 and of suilicient amplitudenthe voltage excursion of the anodel of thetube 3G will be between definite limits as determined by the fno-current conditions for the' anode 31 when the grid 27 ofY tube ZiB-is sufficiently positive, and the full-current condition for the anode 31 when grid 27 is sufficiently negative to completely cut off current flow through the anode 26 of the tube 29.

The slope generator circuit comprises electrondischarge `Vstructures in the form of Vtwotriode vacuum tubes '5,0 and 60 connected in a series arrangement, with one tube' 60 -resistor 69 is providedras a limiting resistance to prevent A excessive current when the adjustable resistor 67 is'at the minimum resistance setting. The magnitude of the constant current is determined vby theV relationship between the voltage drop across the grid resistor 65 and the effecasionsa tive cathode resistance Ri; furnished by the cathode re- Y 'output from the,k input signal Shaper l@ taken frorn'a potentiometer consisting of resistors 45 and 46, is applied to the slope generator input terminal el. If the switch 51 is'in the open position, thenrthetube 50. will act as fa straight cathode follower and repeat'the signal as applied vto thc-:grid 57. The setting yof the slope control resistor 67 will have a negligible eifect on this operation.

`When the switchr 51 is `closed so `that a Y capacitor 53 is 70 connected in the circuit, a positive signal transition at theV grid 57 ofthe tube 50 will be accurately repeated at the cathode 58 and the terminal 71,` since the low impedance of the tube 50 functioning as a cathode follower will discharge the capacitor 53 almost instantly. A negative stant current tube 60 will charge the capacitor 53 ('negatively in the circuit as shown) and the voltage at the cathode 58 of the tube 50 will therefore drop at a constantrate untilthe Vcut-off voltage is reached and the tubee't)V again draws current. .Because the rate of voltage drop across a given capacitive reactance element is determined VbyV the Y rate of current flow into it, it can be seen that the adjustment of the slope control resistor 67, which determines the magnitude of current through the tube oil, is therefore effective in controlling the rate vof voltage drop across the capacitor 53 following a negative at the grid 57 of the tube 50.

A positive signal transition applied to the terminal 4l will then appear at the terminal 71 with negligible delay, while the delay in Vrepetition'of a negative transition will be dependent upon the size of the capacitor 53 and the rate of constant current tlowing into it.

A capacitor 37 may be connected across the anode resistor 3S in theinput signal Shaper circuit 10 by means of a switch 39 to cause a fixed delay in the Vrepeating of a positive transition, and thus produce a net delay on either transition by adjustment of the variable delay control 67.

. The capacitors 37 and 53 may be returned to Neutral or Vto B- if desired, but ordinarily the preferred return is to B+', as shown. `The latter connection is preferred because the capacitor 53 is then directly connected to the anodeV 56"'and the cathode 58 so that the tube 50 and the capacitor 53 are the'only components through which current flows to change the potential across the capacitor 53. This prevents interaction between this circuit and similar circuits as might'occurrif the current were made to flow through the impedance elements ofthe power supply.

' Under certain conditions it maybe preferable to vary the voltage applied to Vthe grid 62 of theV constant current tube 60 by ,substituting a variable potentiometer in place of the resistors '64 and 65 and leaving the resistor connected to the cathode 63 fixed. y

It is a special feature ofthe invention that the delay control resistor 67V and the resistors .64 and 65 have no component of Vsignal voltage across them' and that they 1. can be remotely located from the rest of the circuit with onlynormal Lprecautions against pickupV of interfering signals whichcould affectV the operation 'of the circuit. A number of such control Aresistors could be connected to their associatedrcircuits with no cross-coupling effects by conductors enclosed in a single shielded cable. Since the Vresistor 67 hasonly a relatively low voltage. component across it and also is only a'two-terminal device, it is preferred .that this resistor be used as the slope control.

The output signal Shaper 70,7as shown in Fig. 2, is Va ,cathode coupled bi-stable lock over reciproconductive circuit withcomponent values such that the signal transitions as presented to the terminal 71 and the grid 87 of the tube 80 by the slope generator 40 will causeit to produce a square wave output signal train at the output terminal99. Normally, the outputsignal Shaper would be adjusted `to V,trigger on a voltage level near the center of the excursion range of the signal obtained at the' terminal 71.

. A number of known circuits may be'used for the output signal Shaper; a Vdifferential ampliermight well be used, 'if desired. Y Y Y Y j Y v Y The circuit arrangement specificallyjshown in Fig. 2 is well suited for compensating for characteristic distortions suffered by telegraphic lsignals or the like when transmitted over channels of insuicient bandwidth or unstable gain and/or phaseV characteristics, either land line or v4radio channels. VIn such cases, the circuitry may be considered to provide regeneration in so far ascorrectio 'of characteristic Vdistortion is concerned. .j

Referring to Fig. 3, there 4is shown a number of Vcurves which graphically illustrate the operationof the circuit arrangement of Fig. 2. VLThe uppermostcurve lOl-represignal transition se'nts au idealized telegraph type signal which is applied to the Vinput terminals 11 and 13. Direct current neutral signals are usually applied with the neutral terminal 15 connected to an earth ground and this connection is also preferable for polar signals. 'Ihe limiter 10 and the output voltage divider produce a signal at the terminal 41. This signal is in strict time phase and is represented by the second curve 103. When the slope control resistor 67 is set to provide minimum cathode circuit reactance Rk, the output of the slope generator 40 is as represented by the curve 105. The dashed line 106 in ail cases represents the triggering potential level of the output signal Shaper 70. Under these conditions the output signal Shaper repeats the input pulses without delay, as represented by the next curve 107. When the cathode resistance R1; is about half the maximum value, the output of the slope generator 40 at the terminal 71 is as represented by the curve 109; a decided slope being found at the negative transition or trailing edge of each pulse. As represented by the following curve 111, the output signal shaper 70 repeats the positive transition immediately, but delays the negative transition until the slope has dropped to the triggering level represented by the dashed line 106, whereupon the negative transition of the output signal at the terminal 99 is added to produce a widening of the pulse as applied to the input signal Shaper 10. The curves 113 and 115 show a similar, but amplied, action obtained when the cathode resistance Rk is at maximum value.

In practice, the maximum delay should be about twothirds of the normal spacing interval, but in multiplex circuit arrangements care should be taken that the delay period can not extend over a period so long as to allow the operator to eliminate a channel signal element from the aggregate signal element by improper adjustment of the slope control resistor 67.

If greater precision of xed delay is required than is afforded by the circuit arrangement of Fig. 2, with the switch 39 closed, two such delay circuits in accordance with the invention may, with proper phasing, be cascaded with one circuit arranged to produce a xed delay on one transition and the other circuit arranged to produce a controllable delay on the other transition, thereby to produce a net delay on either transition with separate or ganged delay controls.

When cascading the circuits according to the invention, only one limiter, that at the input, is necessary; and often the maximum amplitude level only need be limited, as it is only necessary that the given slope wave begin at the same relative time in order to trigger the output signal Shaper at the same relative time with respect to the remainder of the input pulse.

Where the signal is poly-static or comprises more than two conditions and delay corrections are required, it is Suggested that decoding devices be arranged to separate the signal components into a multiplicity of bi-static or two-condition signals, and each bi-static signal separately' controlled, as previously described, after which correction the several bi-static signals may be combined into a polystatic signal, similar to the original signal, except with the desired delay conditions added.

In an actually operated and tested pulse modifying circuit wired according to Fig. 2, the following component parts values were used:

Component Reference No. Value Resistors 69 Tubes 20, 30, 50, 60, 80, 90

`A Square'w'ave telegraph signal of 21577 C. P. S. repetition rate, varying in amplitude between 14 and 60 volts was applied to the terminals 11 and 13 with terminal 15 at ground. nAn output square wave signal of 2O volts amplitude was derived between the output terminal 99 and ground, ground potential being established substantially mid-way between B and B+.

Other values can be readily determined for use in other applications as will be obvious to one skilled in the art,and of course transistor circuits equivalent to the tube circuits shown can be used if desired.

The invention claimed is:

1. A circuit arrangement for modifying the duration of a signal wave comprising substantially rectangular pulses having substantially steep leading and trailing edges and substantially limited amplitude, vincluding a cathode follower circuit comprising an electron discharge device having an anode, a control electrode and a cathode, a resistance element connected to said cathode of said electron discharge device, a capacitor connected between said anode and cathode of said electron discharge device, connections to apply direct operating potential across the series Vcircuit comprising said resistance element andrsaid capacitor, means interposed in series with said resistance element to maintain constant current flow in said series circuit, means to apply said substantially rectangular pulses to said control electrode of said electron discharge device, thereby to produce a wave of output pulses at said cathode of said electron discharge device, said output pulses having substantially steep leading edges, a dat top, and sloping trailing edges, and a bistable reciproconductive circuit connected to said cathode to reshape said output pulses so that said output pulses have substantially steep leading and trailing edges spaced farther apart in time than the leading and trailing edges of the said pulses of said signal wave applied to said control electrode of said electron discharge device.

2. A telegraph signal repeating, regenerating and weighting circuit arrangement including a cathode follower circuit comprising a vacuum tube having an anode, a control element and a cathode, an electron discharge structure having an anode electrode connected to the cathode of said vacuum tube, a control electrode and a cathode electrode, a variable resistor connected to said cathode electrode, means to apply direct operating potential across the series circuit defined by said variable resistor, said electron discharge structure and said vacuum tube, a capacitor connected between said anode and said cathode of said vacuum tube, means coupled to said control element of said vacuum tube for applying a telegraph signal of recurring pulses susceptible of random variations in said recurrence thereof to the control element of said Vacuum tube, and a bistable reciproconductive circuit coupled to said cathode of said vacuum tube for producing a train of pulses in fixed phase relationship with and in response to said applied telegraph signal, the duration of the pulses of said train being determined by the current flow in said capacitor according to the Setting of said Variable resistor.

3. A signal repeating, regenerating and weighting circuit arrangement including a cathode follower circuit comprising an electron discharge device having an anode, a control element and a cathode, an electron discharge structure having an anode electrode connected to the cathode of said electron discharge device, a control electrode and a cathode electrode, a variable slope control resistor connected to said cathode electrode, means to apply direct operating potential across the series circuit defined by said electron discharge structure, said variable slope control resistor, and Said electron discharge device, a capacitor connected between said anode and said cathode of said electron discharge device, means to apply direct operating potential to Said control electrode of said electron discharge structure to produce a substantially constant current ow through said series circuit and said capacitor,means to apply a' signal of recurring pulses susc'eptible ofY random" variations in the recurrence `thereor` and a remotely located receiver portion, a Weight adjust-V ing circuit in at least onel of said portions, said weight adjustingV circuit comprising an input signal -shaper to whichV a telegraph-signal is applied, a'n'otpu't circuit coupled to said input signal sh'ap'e'rforV derivinga shap'edtelegraph signaltherefrorm Va slope Wave generator for providig'fa sloping trailing edge'at negative transitions of a telegraph signal applied thereto, said slopewave generator comprising a cathode follower electron discharge device havingan VVanodeja cathode', arid a' control grid,A means connecting said control grid to said output circuit of said input signal Shaper,- means connected to` said anode for applying' thereto` a unidirectional potential that'isrpositive with respect to aY point of reference potential, a constant curent'vle'c't'ror'i discharge device having an an'ode electrode, cathode electrode, and a control electrode', means connecting said anode electrode of said constant current device to said cathode of said cathode follower device, a

. 8 Y variable resistor connected between said 'catliode electrode of said constant current device and said point of reference potential, a resistor connected between said anode of'sad cathode follower device and said'control electrode ofsaid constant Ycurrent device, Va resistor cnnectdbetweelr said control electrode of said constant'crrentfdevice and said point of reference potential, a capacitor'coginected between said anode ,and said cathode of said cathode follower device, an outputV signal sha'perA comprisiiiga multivibrator having inputV and output circuits', Vmeans connecting said input circuit of said multivibrator to said cathode of said cathode follower device, and means counected to said output circuit of said multivibrator for deriving a telegraph signal therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,250,202 Matusita July 22, 1941 2,294,956 Buckingham Sept. 8, 1942 2,409,012 Bliss Oct. 8, 1946 2,546,813 Anderson Mar. 27, 1951 2,568,019 Martin Sept. 18, 1951 2,578,643 Hayslett Dec. 11, 1951 2,589,807 Higinbotham Mar. 18, 1952 2,666,891 WeidmarmV Jan. 19, 1954 

